Congratulations to YTT Scholarship Graduate, Danielle!
Danielle received Sea Change Yoga's annual Teacher Training Scholarship in 2022 and recently completed her online 200-hour training through the Prison Yoga Project! We asked Danielle to reflect upon what she learned through this training, and here is what she shared:
This yoga training has taught me more in-depth that yoga is much more than postures. I have learned how to use the five Yamas and Niyamas in my daily life, which has increased a positive transformation within myself. Practicing Yamas and Niyamas in my daily life is inviting me to be mindful and more present, bringing my mind, body, and spirit into peace and allowing me to let go of any hostile thoughts and/or any sufferings that I may be encountering or holding onto. I have taken all the information from this training, especially the five social ethics of yamas and the five personal practices of Niyamas, and applied them to my relationship with myself as well as my relationship with others. I have found by doing this I can walk around with my head lifted high because I am no longer carrying around the trauma, hurt, guilt, shame, and negativity that once kept me mentally isolated. I can say because of practicing and applying Yamas and Niyamas to the communication I have with others has resulted in positive outcomes, most often the reactions from others are with endearment (and if not), I handle my responses in a more genuine and understanding way. I have gained more patience, compassion, and truthfulness for myself and others. I have learned a new way of living since learning and understanding yoga. I truly believe that this training through the Prison Yoga Project has given me the support that I needed to become a successful yoga teacher, and it has allowed me to gain the confidence to give back to others what I have gained from the practice of yoga.
I feel like personal healing needs to come before anything/anyone. You can not give to others what you are not given to yourself first. It can be risky to preach what you're not practicing. Healing needs to come from within, once you start to heal and reconnect with yourself then sharing that with others (maybe your story) can be an inspiration to them. I think that it is essential for self-study and it supports personal and collective healing more than one can realize until actually practiced. I know for me, my personal history and experiences defined me and I did not allow anything different to take place of that. I had to put in the work to make changes within myself but it was the practice of yoga and self-study that allowed me to reconnect and rediscover myself and have learned to allow myself to heal. I now can proudly say I am not my past experiences, trauma, and/or mistakes.
Breathe, Release
Breathe and Release the addiction so deep
Breathe and Release the anger so steep
Control is what I see in my view
Control is all I know how to do
Taken over by shame and guilt
Taken over by judgment that has been built
Why can't I let this go
Why can't I continue to grow
Breathe and Release an offering I sought
Breathe and Release an invitation I got
Once broken deep inside
Once I thought I would not survive
The movement gives me strength
The calmness I will obtain to any length
Kindness brings me joy
Kindness I will not destroy
Breathe and Release forgiveness I weep
Breathe and Release silence so sweet
Each day I leave behind an attitude
Each moment I shine with gratitude
Compassion has got a hold of me
Compassion has me living with positive energy
I see now what I have to do
I see my life being gentle to me and you
Breathe and Release for the count of five
Breathe and Release forever my high
- Original poem by Danielle.
Photo by Molly Haley.